Boat trailers



F. B. WHALEN Nov. 23, 1965 BOAT TRAILERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 18,1959 INVENTOR Frank B. Who/en ATTORNEYS Nov. 23, 1965 F. B. WHALEN3,219,217

BOAT TRAILERS Filed May 18, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR Fran/r B.Who/en Fig. 4 BY 22 M ATTORNEYS F. B. WHALEN Nov. 23, 1965 BOAT TRAILERS5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 18, 1959 INVENTOR Frank B. Who/en ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in boat trailers.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved boat trailerhaving novel cradle means for supporting a boat by engagement with itshull during transportation and which is so arranged that loading andunloading of the boat are facilitated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved boat trailerhaving coacting bolsters and rollers mounted on a frame for supportingengagement with the hull of a boat, one of the bolsters being pivotalrelative to the frame for movement into and out of engagement with theboat hull to permit the shifting of the boat and distribution of itsload.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved boattrailer, of the character described, having a pair of bolsters at therear of its frame for coacting with rollers to support a boat on theframe, one of the bolsters being stationary and the other bolster beingpivotally supported by a rotatable member so as to be raised and loweredrelative to the rollers and stationary bolster upon rocking movement ofthe member whereby the boat may be tilted transversely into and out ofengagement with the stationary bolster upon loading and unloading of theboat.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved boattrailer, of the character described, wherein the frame is pivotallyattached to a tongue for tiltable movement relative thereto and haslatch means for fastening the tongue and frame against relativemovement, the rotatable member of the pivotally supported bolster havingpivotal connection with the latch means whereby said member is rockedabout its axis upon actuation of said latch means to pivot said bolsterinto and out of boat supporting position.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a boat trailer constructed in accordancewith the invention and supporting a boat shown in broken lines,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the trailer,

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the trailer with the boat beingshown in broken lines,

FIG. 4 is a view, similar to FIG. 3, with the frame of the trailertilted and one of its bolsters lowered for loading and unloading theboat,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical, sectional view showing themounting of the pivoted bolster.

FIG. 6 is a view, similar to FIG. 5, showing the bolster in its lowerposition,

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, bottom plan view of the latch for fastening theframe and tongue of the trailer against relative movement,

FIG. 8 is a view, similar to FIG. 7, showing the latch released,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the latch, its handle and connection tothe pivoted bolster, and

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the mounting of therotatable member for pivoting the bolster.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the frame of a trailer fortransporting and launching boats and includes a pair of elongated,horizontal, main frame members of channels 11 extending longitudinallyof the frame and connected in parallel, spaced relationship byhorizontal, parallel cross bars or channel memmbers 12, 13 and 14.Preferably, the webs of the members 11, 12, 13 and 14 are disposeduprightly with the flanges of said members 11 extending inwardly and theflanges of the other members extending forwardly of the frame. The frontend portions of the frame members 11 are bent inwardly upon themselvesimmediately forward of the front cross bar 12 to provide a pair ofconverging legs 15. A pair of parallel, spaced channel members or bars16 extend longitudinally from the medial portion of the front cross barand have their front ends disposed between and secured to the front endof the forwardly-converging legs 15. For connecting the front ends ofthe bars 16 in spaced relationship, as well as the front ends of thelegs, an overlying bridge 17 is secured to said front ends and may be ofchannel or U-shape in cross-section. The bars 16 have their flangesdirected outwardly and coact with the bridge 17 to provide alongitudinal, medial, tongue-receiving groove or recess 18 therebetween.A pair of diagonal brace members or bars 19 may extend from thelongitudinal frame members adjacent the intermediate cross bar 13 to themedial portion of the front cross bar 12.

An axle 20, having a pair of ground wheels 21, is disposed forwardly ofand below the intermediate cross bar 13 and is suspended from the framemembers 11 by leaf spring assemblies 22 having front and rear hangers 23and 24 depending from the exteriors of said mem bers (FIGS. 1-4). Thewebs of the frame members have a multiplicity of openings 25 to permitmovement of the hangers 23 and 24 forwardly and rearwardly of the frameand adjustment of the position of the axle longitudinally of said frame.If desired, suitable fenders 26 for the wheels 21 may be suspended bybrackets 27 from the members 11. It is pointed out that the rear crossbar 14 connects the rear ends of the frame members.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 7 and 8, an elongated tongue orlongitudinal member 28 has its rear portion disposed in the frontportion of the recess 18 and its rear extremity pivotally attached tothe webs of the bar 16 by a horizontal, transverse bolt and nut or pivotpin 29. Preferably, a suitable tubular bearing 30 is carried by thetongue for receiving the pin 29. The tongue 28 underlies the bridge 17and is adapted to engage said bridge when the frame and tongue are inalinement as shown in FIGS. 13. A short chain 31 connects one of thelegs 15 to the tongue for limiting the rearward tilting or pivotalmovement of the frame relative to said tongue. In addition to a towhitch 32 and foot 33, the tongue includes an upwardly and rearwardlyinclined bow bumper element 34 having a winch 35 and grooved roller 36mounted on its upper end portion. Grooved keel rollers 37 overlie andare mounted by suitable brackets 38 on the tongue 28 and bars 16adjacent and forwardly of the bridge 17 and immediately behind the rearextremity of said tongue. The medial portions of the cross bars 12, 13and 14 carry similar keel rollers 39 which are adjustably mounted bybrackets 40 and which are adapted to coact with the rollers 36 and 37for supporting a boat, such as shown by the broken lines B in FIGS. 1, 3and 4.

For locking the tongue in alinement with the frame 10 and in parallelrelation to the bars 16, a latch assembly 41 is provided and includes alocking element or flat arm 42 having its medial portion pivotallyattached at 43 to one of the frame legs adjacent the bridge 17 inunderlying relation to said tongue and bars (FIGS. 7 and 8). The lockingarm 42 is of such length that one of its end portions may extendinwardly from its pivot axis 43 to a point adjacent the other frame leg.An angular latch element or keeper 44 is secured to the underside of thelatter leg and extends rearwardly therefrom beneath and in spacedrelation to the adjacent bars 16 for receiving the inner end of thelocking arm. When the locking arm is engaged with its keeper 44, theframe is prevented from tilting rearwardly and is held in alinement withthe tongue. As shown most clearly in FIG. 9, the outer end of the arm 42is pivotally attached at 45 to one end of a link 46 which has its otherend pivoted at 47 to the inner end of an elongated flat bar or handle48. One or more openings 49 are formed in the medial portion of thehandle 48 for receiving a pivot pin or bolt 50 to pivotally connect saidhandle to the front end of an elongated link 51 which extendslongitudinally of the frame and which may be in the form of an anglebar. Since it is attached to the frame at 43, the locking arm is pivotedinto engagement with the keeper 44 upon inward or forward swinging ofthe handle and out of engagement with said keeper upon outward orrearward swinging of said handle. This movement of the handle 48 causeslongitudinal reciprocation of the link 51 and actuation of a bolsterassembly 52 which is mounted at the rear end of the frame.

The bolster assembly 52 includes a tubular member or tube 53, which maybe rectangular in cross-section, ex tending transversely between theframe members 11 adjacent the rear cross bar 14 and having a trunnion orpivot pin 54 secured in and projecting from each end thereof. As shownin FIGS. 6 and 10, U-shaped bearings 55 are secured between the flangesof the frame members and have the pivot pins 54 journaled therein forrotatably supporting the tube 53. The lifrk 51 has its rear endpivotally attached at 56 to an apertured ear or lug 57 depending fromthe tube whereby reciprocation of said link rocks said tube about itslongitudinal axis. In order to limit counter-clockwise or forwardpivoting of the bolster assembly, a lug or stop 58 is secured to thefront surface of one or both bearings 55 and projects inwardly therefromcontiguous the upper flange of the frame member for engagement by thefront surface of the tube. An upstanding bracket 59, which may behat-shaped in crosssection, is adjustably secured to the rear surface ofthe left or one end portion of the tube 53 by bolts or fasteners 60 andhas a bifurcated upper portion 61 extending above the frame (FIGS. 5 and6). The medial portion of a longitudinally-extending bolster or cradleelement 62 is pivotally attached at 63 to the upper extremity of thebifurcated portion 61 of the bracket 59, and several openings 64 may beformed a different elevations in said medial portion to permit smallvertical adjustments of the bolster. Suitable cushioning material 65 mayoverlie the upper surface of the bolster 62 which is of such length thatit extends forwardly of the cross bar 13 and rearwardly of the cross bar14.

A similar stationary bolster or cradle element 66, having similarcushioning material 67, extends longitudinally of the frame adjacent itsright or opposite side for coacting with the bolster 62 to support amajor .portion of the weight of the boat. The cross bars 13 and 14 haveupstanding brackets 68 adjustably fastened thereto adjacent the rightframe member 11 for rigidly supporting the stationary bracket 66 by itsend portions. Preferably, the bolsters are identical except for theirmountings and are adapted to support the stern portion of the boat byengagement with the longiudinal margins of its hull. A pair of sternrollers 69 are adjustably mounted on the rear cross bar by upstandingbrackets 70 for coacting with the bolsters and the keel rollers,particularly the rollers 39, to facilitate loading and unloading of theboat. The stern rollers 69 may be disposed outwardly of the bolstersadjacent the frame members, as shown, or may be positioned inwardlythereof. Due to the adjustability of the brackets 70, the stern rollersmay project above or be substantially flush with the upper surfaces ofthe bolsters in accordance with the contour of the boat and theelevation of said bolsters and the adjustment of the bolster brackets 59and 68.

Although both stern rollers need not be used, such as when the boat isrelatively small or of light-weight, the roller adjacent the pivotedbolster 62 is adapted to sustain the major weight of the boat stern whensaid bolster is lowered as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. Conversely, the loadon the adjacent or right-hand stern roller as well as on the keelrollers is relieved when the pivoted bolster is raised (FIGS. 1, 2 and5). In actual use, the weight is distributed between the bolsters andthe rollers with a major portion of said weight being carried by saidbolsters during transporting of the boat. When the various brackets areproperly adjusted in accordance with the contour of the boat hull andrelative to one another, the lowered bolster 62 permits the boat to leaninto engagement with the adjacent stern roller and out of supportingengagement with the stationary bolster 66 whereby said boat rides on anda major portion of its weight is supported by said roller and the keelrollers during loading and unloading. In the event that the stern rolleradjacent the pivoted bolster is not employed, the boat may lean out ofsupporting engagement with the stationary bolster upon lowering of saidpivoted bolster and ride only on the keel rollers when loaded andunloaded by being held out of supporting engagement with said pivotedbolster. Since the bolster assembly 52 is actuated by the latch assembly41, the pivoted bolster is raised when the frame is locked in alinementwith the tongue 28 and is lowered when said latch assembly is releasedor unlocked. Due to its pivotal attachment at 63 to the bracket 59, thebolster 62 is free to pivot relative thereto and may swing downwardlyand rearwardly to facilitate initial loading and terminal unloading ofthe boat. It is noted that the bolsters may remain in slight contactwith the boat when not in supporting engagement therewith, since thepivoted bolster is moved ino and out of boat supporting position toshift a major portion of the weight of said boat between the rollers andbolsters.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope ofthe appended claims, without department from the spirit of theinvention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A boat trailer including a frame, boat supportlng means on the frame,a pair of stern bolsters on said frame for engaging a boat resting onthe boat supporting means to support a portion of the weight of theboat, one of the bolsters being rigid relative to the frame, the otherbolster being pivotally mounted for vertical movement into and out ofboat supporting position relative to the stationary bolster, and meansfor raising and lowering the movable bolster.

2. A boat trailer as set forth in claim 1 including means for pivotallymounting the movable bolster on the frame.

3. A boat trailer as set forth in claim 1 wherein the boat supportingmeans includes rollers, the bolsters extending longitudinally of theframe on opposite sides thereof.

4. A boat trailer as set forth in claim 1 wherein the boat supportingmeans is disposed at the longitudinal center of the frame for engagementby the keel of the boat, the bolsters being disposed at the rear portionof the frame on opposite sides thereof, and a stern roller on the rearend of said frame adjacent the movable bolster for supporting engagementwith the boat upon lowering of said bolster.

5. A boat trailer including a tiltable frame, a tongue pivotallyattached to the front portion of the frame, latch means for fasteningthe tongue and frame against relative movement, boat supporting means onsaid frame, a pair of bolsters on the rear portion of said frame atopposite sides thereof for engaging a boat resting on the boatsupporting means to support a portion of the weight of the boat, one ofthe bolsters being stationary relative to said frame, means forpivotally mounting the other bolster on said frame for vertical movementinto and out of boat supporting position relative to the stationarybolster, and means connecting the mounting means to the latch means forraising and lowering the pivoted bolster upon fastening and unfasteningof said latch means.

6. A boat trailer as set forth in claim 5 wherein the bolsters extendlongitudinally of the frame, the bolster mounting means including amember extending transversely of and rotatably mounted on said frame,and a bracket secured to one end portion of the member and pivotallyattached to the medial portion of the pivoted bolster.

7. A boat trailer as set forth in claim 5 wherein the frame includes apair of spaced longitudinal members at its front portion having the rearend portion of the tongue disposed therebetween, means pivotallyattaching the rear end of said tongue to the members for movement abouta horizontal axis, the latch means including an arm underlying andpivotally supported by the front portion of said frame for movementabout an upright axis and into and out of underlying relation to saidmembers and tongue; and a keeper secured to one of said members andhaving a portion spaced therefrom adapted to receive the arm.

8. A boat trailer as set forth in claim 5 including a stern roller onthe rear end of the frame adjacent the pivoted bolster for supportingengagement with the boat upon lowering of said bolster.

9. A boat trailer including a frame, keel rollers on the frame, a pairof stern bolsters extending longitudinally of the rear portion of saidframe at opposite sides thereof for engaging the hull of a boat havingits keel resting on the keel rollers to support a portion of the weightof the boat, means for rigidly fastening one of the bolsters to saidframe, means for pivotally mounting the other bolster on said frame forvertical movement into and out of boat supporting position relative tothe rigid bolster, and means for raising and lowering the pivotedbolster.

10. A boat trailer as set forth in claim 9 including a stern roller onthe rear end of the frame adjacent the pivoted bolster for supportingengagement with the hull of the boat upon raising and lowering of saidbolster.

11. A boat trailer as set forth in claim 10 wherein the frame includes apair of longitudinal side members, the bolster mounting means includinga cross member extending between and supported by the side members forrotation about a horizontal axis, and a bracket secured to one endportion of the cross member and pivotally attached to the medial portionof the pivoted bolster.

12. A boat trailer as set forth in claim 9 wherein the frame includes apair of longitudinal side members, the bolster mounting means includinga cross member extending between and supported by the side members forrotation about a horizontal axis, and a bracket secured to one endportion of the cross member and pivotally attached to the medial portionof the pivoted bolster.

13. A boat trailer as set forth in claim 9 wherein the frame memberincludes a pair of longitudinal side members, the bolster mounting meansincluding a cross member extending between the side members forwardly oftheir rear ends, bearings on said side members supporting the crossmember for rotation about a horizontal axis,

and an upright bracket connecting the pivoted bolster to said crossmember.

14. A boat trailer including a tiltable frame, keel rollers on theframe, a pair of stern bolsters extending longitudinally of the rearportion of said frame at opposite sides thereof for engaging the hull ofa boat having a keel resting on the keel rollers to support a portion ofthe weight of the boat, means for rigidly fastening one of the bolstersto said frame, means for pivotally mounting the other bolster on saidframe for vertical movement into and out of boat supporting positionrelative to the rigid bolster, means for raising and lowering thepivoted bolster, a tongue pivotally attached to the front portion ofsaid frame, and a latch for fastening the tongue and frame againstrelative movement, the means for raising and lowering the pivotedbolster having connection with the latch for actuation upon fasteningand unfastening of said latch.

15. In a boat trailer the combination comprising a frame including apair of spaced longitudinally extending side members; a plurality ofbrace members extending transversely between said side members; aplurality of longitudinally aligned keel rollers mounted between saidside members; a pair of transom supporting cradles having an uppersurface for supporting a transom of a boat on the trailer, said transomcradles being transversely spaced one from the other and mounted on therear portion of said frame, a first of said transom cradles being fixedagainst vertical movement relative to said frame and a second of saidtransom cradles being mounted for selective vertical movement relativeto said frame of at least one portion thereof; selectively operablelever means for effecting vertical movement of said last mentionedportion of said second transom cradle, the arrangement being such thatwhen said portion of said second transom cradle is in a raised positionat least a major portion of the weight of the boat is borne by therespective transom cradles and when said portion of said second transomcradle is in a lowered position at least a major portion of the weightof a boat on the trailer is borne by said keel rollers.

16. In a boat trailer the combination comprising a frame including apair of spaced longitudinally extending side members; a plurality ofbrace members extending transversely between said side members; aplurality of longitudinally aligned keel rollers mounted between saidside members; a pair of transom supporting cradles having an uppersurface for supporting a transom of a boat on the trailer, said transomcradles being transversely spaced one from the other and mounted on therear portion of said frame, a first of said transom cradles being fixedagainst vertical movement relative to said frame and a second of saidtransom cradles being mounted for selective vertical movement relativeto said frame of at least one portion thereof; lever means forselectively moving said portion of said second transom cradles from afirst raised position to a second lowered position, and to selectivelyreverse this movement, said last mentioned means being so arranged thata weight upon said port-ion of said second transom cradle will maintainthe latter in a given of the two positions until its position is changedby the application of external forces to said means, the arrangement ofall of said cradles and said keel rollers being such that when saidportion of the second transom cradle is in the raised position theweight of a boat on the trailer is borne by the respective cradles andwhen the same is in the lowered position at least a portion of theweight of the boat on the trailer is borne by said keel rollers.

17. In a boat trailer the combination comprising a frame including apair of spaced longitudinally extending side members; a plurality ofbrace members extending transversely between said side members; aplurality of longitudinally aligned keel rollers mounted between saidside members; a pair of transom supporting cradles having an uppersurface for supporting a transom of a boat on the trailer, said transomcradles being transversely spaced one from the other and mounted on therear portion of said frame, a first of said transom cradles being fixedagainst vertical movement relative to said frame and a second of saidtransom cradles having one portion pivotally mounted to a pivot supportmeans mounted on said frame, said pivot support means being selectivelymovable in a vertical plane relative to said frame; selectively operableleverage means for efifec-ting this movement; the arrangement being suchthat when the pivot support means is in a raised position the Weight ofa boat on the trailer is borne by the respective cradles and when thefirst pivot support means is in a lowered position at least a majorportion of the weight of a boat on the trailer is borne by said keelrollers.

ReferenceslCited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS References Citedby the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1958 Kindell. 5/ 1960 Funk.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

15 WILLIAM B. LABORDE, ERNEST A. FALLER,

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Examiners.

14. A BOAT TRAILER INCLUDING A TILTABLE FRAME, KEEL ROLLERS ON THEFRAME, A PAIR OF STERN BOLSTERS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE REARPORTION OF SAID FRAME AT OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF FOR ENGAGING THE HULL OFA BOAT HAVING A KEEL RESTING ON THE KEEL ROLLERS TO SUPPORT A PORTION OFTHE WEIGHT OF THE BOAT, MEANS FOR RIGIDLY FASTENING ONE OF THE BOLSTERSTO SAID FRAME, MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE OTHER BOLSTER ON SAIDFRAME FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF BOAT SUPPORTING POSITIONRELATIVE TO THE RIGID BOLSTER, MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THEPIVOTED BOLSTER, A TONGUE PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO THE FRONT PORTION OFSAID FRAME, AND A LATCH FOR FASTENING THE TONGUE AND FRAME AGAINSTRELATIVE MOVEMENT, THE MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THE PIVOTEDBOLSTER HAVING CONNECTION WITH THE LATCH FOR ACTUATION UPON FASTENINGAND UNFASTENING OF SAID LATCH.